The Controller of Correctional Service, Akwa Ibom state, Mr. Aleze Oditah, Tuesday disclosed that the Uyo Correctional Centre has overshoot its capacity.
According to the controller, the Uyo Correctional Centre houses over 1,347 inmates thereby overshooting its capacity of 612 inmates with about 70% of them awaiting trial.
In a press release made available by the Deputy Director, Media Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Modupe Ogundoro, the Controller further expressed difficulties and challenges encountered in the management of the inmates due to over population.
Oditah said, “With the ecological funding from the State Government, the renovation of the Correctional Centre is 70% completed and this will give a sort of relief from challenges often experienced during rainy season,”
At the exercise, the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion also granted freedom to 13 inmates, including a 70-year-old man from various correctional centres.
The decongestion exercise and facility tour of the Medium Security Custodial Centre is headed by Chief Judge, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello.
At the end of the exercise in Uyo, Bello said, “A total inmates released are 13 from the Correctional Centre, out of this, 11 of them had their option of fine paid by the State government, while two were released on grounds of ill health.
According to the CJ, 13 inmates were released in accordance to the mandate given to the committee.
The pardon for their release he added were based on conviction for minor offences with option of fines but were unable to pay, old age, ill health, overstay of statutory detention period and other factors that could justify their release.
